Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Set of 2 Antique Prints of various Beetles including a Rhinoceros Beetle

About the Item

Set of two hand-colored antique prints depicting many beetles. Source unknown, to be determined. Published by E. Hochdanz, circa 1890. The print include a Rhinoceros Beetle. Rhinoceros Beetles are distinguished by their sizeable horn-like structures on the males, which are often used to fight other males or to dig and climb. Overal description: The prints provided are intricately detailed illustrations of beetles, each labeled with a number that presumably corresponds to their species name or classification. These prints are reminiscent of those found in works from the 19th century that aimed to catalog and describe the natural world, specifically in the field of entomology. The style of these illustrations, along with the text at the bottom, indicates that they are from a historical scientific publication. The notation "Art. Anst. v. E. Hochdanz, Stuttgart," suggests that the prints were created by or for the art institute of E. Hochdanz in Stuttgart. "Art Anst" is likely an abbreviation for "Artistic Institute," and "v." could stand for "von," which is German for "of" or "from." As for the specific work these prints are from, without explicit text indicating the title, it's challenging to provide a precise answer. However, the artistic style and the method of illustration align with those used in the late 19th century, a period rich in natural history publications. Given the time period and the style of the prints, it's plausible that they could be from a publication similar to "The Animal Kingdom" by Georges Cuvier or another comparable compendium of natural history. The exact year of publication isn't provided, but if they align with the style and time of E. Hochdanz's operation, it would likely be in the latter half of the 19th century. In the two prints provided, there is a rich variety of beetles illustrated with great detail and vibrancy. Here’s a descriptive overview: **Print One:** 1. **Beetles in Various Hues:** This print displays beetles in a range of colors from bright greens to deep blacks, each with their own unique patterns and features. They are portrayed in various sizes and shapes, from elongated bodies to more rounded carapaces. 2. **Vibrant Contrast:** Some beetles exhibit striking contrast in their coloring, with vibrant yellows or reds set against black or dark backgrounds. 3. **Notable Features:** Certain beetles are marked by distinctive features, such as pronounced horns, ridged elytra (the hardened forewings), or patterned shells that might indicate their species or gender. 4. **Artistic Detailing:** The illustrations pay close attention to the segmentation of the legs and antennae, the texture of the wings, and other anatomical details, indicating a high level of scientific accuracy in the artwork. **Print Two:** 1. **Dramatic Horns and Sizes:** The most dominant beetle in this print features an enormous pair of horns, suggesting it could be a species of rhinoceros beetle. It's rendered in considerable detail, with texture on the body and legs that conveys a sense of realism. 2. **Diverse Body Shapes:** This collection shows a more extensive range of body types, including some with elongated, cylindrical forms and others that are more compact. 3. **Variation in Patterns:** There's a beetle with a distinctive checkered pattern on its back, one with stripes along its elytra, and others that appear more uniform in coloration. 4. **Illustrative Precision:** As with the first print, the illustration of each beetle is detailed, from the segmentation of the limbs to the fine lines suggesting the texture of the carapaces. Together, these prints serve as a visual encyclopedia of beetle biodiversity, capturing the aesthetic beauty and biological diversity of these insects. They reflect a time when such detailed illustrations were vital for the study and classification of species, especially for those that were too rare or distant to be observed directly by most scientists or naturalists.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 8.82 in (22.4 cm)Width: 5.79 in (14.7 cm)Depth: 0.02 in (0.5 mm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    c.1890
  • Condition:
    General age-related toning. Tape residu on top margins. Blank verso. Please study images carefully.
  • Seller Location:
    Langweer, NL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BG-13585-29 & BG-13585-301stDibs: LU3054338983052
More From This SellerView All
  • Set of 2 Antique Prints of Various Beetles
    Located in Langweer, NL
    Set of two original antique prints of insects / beetles. These prints, most likely, originate from an edition of the scarce work 'Catalogus Systematicus Coleopterorum. Catalogue syst...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century Prints

    Materials

    Paper

  • Set of 3 Antique Prints of Various Beetles
    Located in Langweer, NL
    Set of three original antique prints of small insects / beetles. These prints, most likely, originate from an edition of the scarce work 'Catalogus Systematicus Coleopterorum. Catalo...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century Prints

    Materials

    Paper

  • Set of 5 Antique Prints of various Beetles
    Located in Langweer, NL
    Set of five original antique prints of insects / beetles. These prints, most likely, originate from an edition of the scarce work 'Catalogus Systematicus Coleopterorum. Catalogue sys...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century Prints

    Materials

    Paper

  • Set of 2 Antique Prints of Various Small Beetles
    Located in Langweer, NL
    Set of two original antique prints of small insects / beetles. These prints, most likely, originate from an edition of the scarce work 'Catalogus Systematicus Coleopterorum. Catalogu...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century Prints

    Materials

    Paper

  • Antique Print of Various Insects Including a Grasshopper
    Located in Langweer, NL
    Original antique print of insects. 1.Truxalis minita (Grasshopper), 2.Acridium moestum (Tree Locust), 3.Tetrix lucifer (Grasshopper). This print originates from 'Dictionnaire Universel D'histoire Naturelle (1841-1849 in sixteen volumes, second edition in 1861) by Charles Henry Dessalines d'Orbigny (1806–1876), a French botanist and geologist specializing in the Tertiary of France. He was the younger brother of French naturalist...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century Prints

    Materials

    Paper

  • Set of three Antique Prints of various Monkeys, also including Maki
    Located in Langweer, NL
    Set of three original antique prints of various monkeys including maki, indri and others. These prints originate from 'Bilderbuch fur Kinder' by F.J. Bertuch. Friedrich Johann Bertuc...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century Prints

    Materials

    Paper

You May Also Like
  • Original Antique Print of Beetles, 1847, 'Unframed'
    Located in St Annes, Lancashire
    Great image of beetles. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original color. Published, 1...
    Category

    Antique 1840s English Folk Art Prints

    Materials

    Paper

  • Original Antique Print of Beetles, 1847, 'Unframed'
    Located in St Annes, Lancashire
    Great image of beetles. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original color. Published, 1...
    Category

    Antique 1840s English Folk Art Prints

    Materials

    Paper

  • Original Antique Print of Beetles, circa 1850
    Located in St Annes, Lancashire
    Great print of beetles Lithograph Original hand colour Published, circa 1850 Unframed.
    Category

    Antique 1850s English Victorian Prints

    Materials

    Paper

  • Original Antique Print of Beetles, 1847, 'Unframed'
    Located in St Annes, Lancashire
    Great image of beetles. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original color. Published, 1...
    Category

    Antique 1840s English Folk Art Prints

    Materials

    Paper

  • Vintage Print Illustration of Various Types of Trees, framed
    Located in Opole, PL
    We present you one of the illustrations from the series printed from a book on various subjects. The graphic is closed in passe-portout and a wooden frame with glass. The price i...
    Category

    20th Century European Prints

    Materials

    Paper

  • Three Antique Wallace Nutting Prints including Interior & Landscape Scenes C1920
    Located in Big Flats, NY
    Three Antique Wallace Nutting Prints including Interior & Landscape Scenes C1920 Measures- Small (Tree): 7.75''H x 5.75''W x .5''D; Medium (Do...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century American Prints

    Materials

    Paper

Recently Viewed

View All